The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-03

Of, may ~ pic"oo va.
Withdraw these pleas aitogether II
YOUR honor will interchange, and
plead not guilty, and 20 to the country
an the merits OF the case. Now q g'eat
deal has been said Il don't know that
/ ought TO allude to it) about pleas Of
this character being Technical, and re-
sorted TO for the purpose oil avoiding an
investigation. ] am requested by my
client to say that he courts investiga-
ton before an Impartial Judge and an
impartial Jury. Is that asking too
much? My client and his associates
ia this matter are men who Lave stood
fair before this community 10 to the
time OF the finding OF these indict-
menis; and, msy 1t please your honor,
IL they were outcasts and outlaws, and
came here with their hands dripping
With human blood, they would be en-
titled TO that much. l respectfully
submit the case to your honor"
The speech throughout was one OF
the mos. log cal, clear cut and elabor-
ate Arguments ever heard In the Grim
inal or any other court room. Each
and every proposition was heavily
barricaded with eminent authorities
on law, and In drawing bis conc!u-
eions tie speaker made them 30 clear
aud distinc', and delivered them with
such force and point that not one who
heard failed to fully comprehend.
The speakers pleas Tor a maintenance
oil the sarctity OF the grand Jury and
it's preservation from the inroads Of
unprincipled and conspirlng usurpers
OF power and authority were vigorous,
manly and uneq uivocal. In II rested
the rights Of every American cltlz n,
protecting him from wsnton and
malicious oppression, and securing
him fair and impartial trial In case
OF evil doing. At one stage Of
his remarks, on this point, the
General warmed up and ex.
claimed, "Great God, what untold
cslamities and horrors msy result
II this sanc,ity Ia broken down and
trampled under foot" II must have
been nsttering to Gen. Wright to 70.
ceivs the perfect shower Of conRratu.
lations from his brethren at the bar
over his magnificent effort. Daring
Its delivery the strong points followed
90 rapidly, one upon the other, that
the opposition counsel and Judge Du.
Boee looked anything but comfortable,
The field Of logic and facts was entire.
ly covered, leaving no bar down by
which the enemy might enter and
break down Its force. From the very
first he measured words and sentences
we'll and followed up the line mapped
out with unerring accuracy. Thu
was clearly seen when
GEN. CHAMBERS,
who followed, arose aud began. He
commenced by saying IL was always q
pleasure for him 10 listen 10 the die.
unpuished gentleman who had JUS,
taken his seat, and to note the H. ge-
unity with which he avoids the diff
cult points In his case when he has q
bad case 10 contend with; and II wa
especially pleasing upon this occasion
TO see with what apparent simplicity
he arouees passion and almost com
pels tho tears 10 burst from our eyes
In picturirg the old common law
made. as he said, for the protection q
the innocent and the weak against
the powers Of ueurpation. "Sir, we dc
not brig before your honor today
any weak aud humble person. We
have no small fish In the court, cir.
We have struck the great whale Of the
Mississippi Valley, and when he lures
upon as and lashes the waters
with his tail, II teens that he 10 dc.
termined to overturn, not only the
Taxirg District, as We have charged
him with doing, but absolutely to turn
over this Criminal Cont itself, and tC
drive your honor from the position
you occupy, and compel you 10 brins
somebody else here TO cit In you
place, not asking for q change o.
venue, which perhaps might have
bsen proper under some circum
stances. but absolutely to drive you
from your position, and bring some
body else 10 cit there and try the case
because he dictates II. We have the
chief officer Of the Taxing District oil
Shelby county, q man charged with
high crimes aud misdemeanop, upon
various Observation-Disclosures inyolv
ing usurpatiUn OF law aud usurpatlon
Of power, and complete disregard oil
the law 40 II is written by the Legis
lature: and some oi them living
Questions Of personal integrity an "a
him. In the face OF these charges, he
comes and moves 10 quash the indic,.
menis and remove the judge from the
bench, ard SURPRISING investigation
into the merits Of the case, cir" He
pronounced all this, and other thing
which he enumerated at some leugth,
"a remarkable spectacle, q very 10.
markAble spectacle"
Ala later period Of the speech he
referred 10 the plea OF the defendant
AZ an indictment by him OF the Judge
aud said the court was In the attitude
OF being put 10 answer charges made
by the accused. He went at length
into the authorities In an endeayoI
10 show that the court has the right
10 dischsrge members Of the grand
jury Tor cause. and supply the place.
Of those discharged with others, when
ever In his judgment tho ends OF pub
lie justice require IL. He also argued
that II was the duty OF the Judge tS
see that the grand Jury presented
indictments against offenders, and 4
the grand jury refused, commended
that the Judge has the right 10 chang
the complexion Of the grand jaTy
until II will.
Az q cold, logical pressntmenl Of hi
aide oil the case, or ~ an answer 10 th,
preceding speech, the effort OF tn,
general was q failure. II was one O
tho Arguments which delights the ea
but falls FAR short nf q telling impress
sion on reason. The speaker remained
entirely on the surface, the NAN id,i
being, II appeared, 10 convince tn
Judge that be, and no one else, shoul,
1T In Judgment ut the trial Of IN,
eases Merely because he had forme,
an opinion ~ 20 defendants guilt, and
In fact, that he intended 10 conylnci
him Of II, cut no figure. A Judge ha,
complies control Of the machinery O
his court, acd therefore OF the gran,
jury AZ a part Of that machinery. ii,
proceeded on this line until nearly
I ~. AZ -